Edventure 4 - Line Tracking - Microbric Edison Manual

EdBook 1 – Barcodes and Edison Rev 2.0
EdVenture 4 – Line tracking
Line tracking is a very popular robotics activity because it's fun to watch the robot go
around and around a track. How does it work? Is it magic? Is it magnetic?
This barcode activates Edison's 'Line tracking' program. The program uses Edison's line
tracking sensor and motors to follow the edge of a black line.
Read the barcode
1. Place Edison above the arrow on the right side, facing the barcode
2. Press the record (round) button 3 times
3. Wait while Edison drives forward and scans the barcode
Barcode – Line tracking
What to do
The first thing you need is a line. You can
print the small track on the next page, print
the large A1 (84cm x 59cm) EdMat from
meetedison.com/edmat/ or make your own
line using black electrical tape on a white
table (the line must be 1.5cm/0.6in thick).
To run the program, place Edison to one
side of your line. Make sure that the line
tracking sensor is on white. Don't place the
sensor directly on the line. Then, press the
play (triangle) button and watch Edison find and follow the line.
EdFact
Edison's line tracking sensor is made up of two parts: a red LED light and a light sensor.
The red LED shines light beneath the robot. The light sensor then measures the amount of
light that is reflected back. If the surface is white, it reflects lots of light, and the light sensor
gets a high light reading. If the surface is black, it does not reflect much light, and the light
sensor gets a low light reading.
When Edison runs the 'Line tracking' program, the robot is in a constant state of
dissatisfaction. When Edison is off the line, it turns right to get on the line. But when
Edison is on the line, it turns left to get off the line. This results in Edison 'waddling' on the
edge of the line.
meetedison.com page 9